Gian Pagnucci
Of all the things that could have sent him in his life’s direction, getting hit by a car when he was a kid did the trick for Gian Pagnucci. In the hospital, he discovered his love for superheroes and comic books. Now, as a professor of English, he uses those tools in the classroom. Learn more about him in this week’s Meet Our Faculty feature.
What is it about the English field that initially drew you in—and ultimately keeps you interested?
When I was a kid, I got hit by a car, which broke my leg and sent me to the hospital. I had nothing to do there but lie in bed and read comic books. That’s right, Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, and best of all, Captain America. I learned to love reading from comic books, and that love of reading led me into the field of English. Over time, I came to love all storytelling, but superhero stories still keep me excited to this day as an English teacher.
Why do you enjoy teaching in this discipline?
As much as I love reading great stories, writing is where the real power of English lies. As an English teacher, I help people learn not only to express their ideas in words and to persuade their readers, but also to understand themselves. Writing is the greatest power in the world. All you have to do is look at the US Constitution or the Bible to see how much the power of writing has impacted life across the globe.
What advice would you give students about how to succeed in college?
Think of college as an adventure. Maybe in high school you weren’t the best student, or maybe you didn’t try that hard. College is your chance to be the best version of yourself. That does mean having fun and socializing and going to all the IUP events and games. But it also means working as hard as you can to excel.
To excel, start by doing all the reading that is assigned and going to every class. Then, since doing the readings will help you to better understand what the professors are teaching, push yourself to be brave and raise your hand and speak in class. The more you try at college and everything else in life, the more you will succeed. You don’t have to be the best to succeed, but if you always try to do your best, you will never let yourself down.
Tell us something most of your students may not know about you.
In addition to teaching English, I host a radio show on WIUP-FM 90.1. The show is called Superhero Smash, and I talk about comic books, movies, and TV shows. I also play all kinds of rock and pop music connected with the world’s greatest superheroes. I host the show all summer long and during most of IUP’s breaks. The show is fun to host, and people can stream it live from anywhere in the country. If anyone is interested, they can learn more about Superhero Smash.